Drive system for a vertical axis washer

(19)

(11)

EP 1 035 245 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	03.07.2002 Bulletin 2002/27

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	13.09.2000 Bulletin 2000/37

(21)	Application number: 00104772.9

(22)	Date of filing: 06.03.2000

(51)	International Patent Classification (IPC)⁷: D06F 13/08, D06F 23/04, D06F 37/40

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
	Designated Extension States:
	AL LT LV MK RO SI

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Priority:

08.03.1999 US 262894

(71)	Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
	Benton Harbor Michigan 49022 (US)

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Inventors:

Mason, Anthony, c/o Whirlpool Corporation
Benton Harbor, MI 49022 (US)
Cuthbert, Victor W., c/o Whirlpool Corporation
Benton Harbor, MI 49022 (US)
Kretchman, Gerald L., c/o Whirlpool Corporation
Benton Harbor, MI 49022 (US)
Carr, David W., c/o Whirlpool Corporation
Benton Harbor, MI 49022 (US)
Coates, Eric M., c/o Whirlpool Corporation
Benton Harbor, MI 49022 (US)
Carow, James P., c/o Whirlpool Corporation
Benton Harbor, MI 49022 (US)

(74)	Representative: Guerci, Alessandro
	Whirlpool Europe S.r.l. Patent Department Viale G. Borghi 27 21025 Comerio (VA) 21025 Comerio (VA) (IT)

(54)	Drive system for a vertical axis washer

(57) A drive and support system for a bottom plate disposed in the bottom of a wash basket of an automatic washer. The bottom plate is driven to radially gyrate or wobble within the wash basket by an output shaft which extends upwardly though the bottom and is rotatable in a first and second direction. A spin tube is disposed coaxially about the output shaft and has a top end which engages the bottom of the basket. The spin tube is co-rotatable in the second direction with the output shaft. A universal joint pivotably supports the wash plate about the top end of the spin tube. Drive means connect the wash plate with the upper end of the output shaft such that the wash plate is disposed in an angled orientation when the output shaft is driven in the first direction and the wash plate is disposed in a level orientation when the output shaft is driven in the second direction. In this manner, the bottom plate is supported for wobbling during the wash portion of the wash cycle and is supported in a level orientation during the spin extraction portion of the wash cycle.

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